Weekly update: Grudge match

January 22, 20109:55PM EST

Real Salt Lake General Manager Steve Pastorino today announced that RSL will host expansion brethren Chivas USA in a rubber match on Friday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. MT at Rice-Eccles Stadium. In keeping with the Halloween theme, RSL is promoting the match as "Noche de los Muertos" (Night of the Dead) and will be hosting a concert, costume contest, safe trick-or-treating and expects an appearance from RSL's very own "El Chupacabras" (Goat sucker), a latinamerican legendary and mythical creature.

The series between the two clubs is level at 2-2 with RSL tallying the last win on Aug. 6 in a 2-1 win at home on ESPN2. The match featured a pair of milestone goals with MF Andy Williams scoring his second goal of the season in the 49th minute and Major League Soccer's 5000th goal, and FW Jason Kreis, Major League Soccer's All-Time Leading Scorer and the first and only player in League history to attain the 100-goal threshold, scoring the game-winning goal in the 74th minute and his then league-leading 98th MLS career goal.

The team's first match ended in a 0-1 loss at the Home Depot Center with a goal from MF Hector Cuadros in the 39th minute. Just 12 days later, RSL evened the series by beating Chivas USA 2-0 at home with goals from MF Williams in 37th minute and MF Seth Trembly 39th minute on May 18.

On July 9, RSL suffered its second loss against Chivas USA with five goals including an own goal from MF Brian Kamler in the 4th minute. Just 12 minutes later, Cuadros tallied his second goal against RSL in the 16th minute. MF Clint Mathis pulled RSL within one goal when he notched his first goal of season in the 23rd minute. Chivas USA went on a rally in the second half adding three more goals from MF Antonio Martinez in the 53rd minute, FW Matt Taylor in the 55th minute and FW Isaac Romo in the 83rd minute ending the game 5-1.

The following is the match history of all games between RSL and Chivas USA:

The game is included in RSL's 2005 full season ticket plan and is marked as "Bonus Game C" in season ticket packages. Other ticket prices for this international match are consistent with single-game ($14 for north goal, $18 for corner flag, $25 for premier east and $32 for VIP west). Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Utah Ticket Office at 451 South 1400 East, logging onto www.utahtickets.com or by contacting the Rice-Eccles Ticket Office at (801) 581-UTIX. Groups of 20 or more should contact Real Salt Lake by calling (866) 9-SOCCER.

INAUGURAL FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT AT RICE-ECCLES STADIUM: Real Salt Lake released details of RSL's Fan Appreciation Night occurring during Wednesday's final regular season game against Rocky Mountain rival Colorado Rapids at Rice-Eccles Stadium, in addition to being the last regular season game of the year.

As a way for Real to give back to all the fans that have faithfully supported the team all season long, the club has prepared a number of giveaways for the fans in attendance. Fans who attend Wednesday's game can expect the following giveaways during halftime and post-game festivities:

One fan will win the KSL 5 TV Honda Odyssey mini-van during post-game

One fan will win the CarsMart Toyota Matrix during halftime

One fan will have the opportunity to win one million dollars in the Chevron Million Dollar Kick during halftime

RSL TO PRESENT TEAM AWARDS DURING PRE-GAME FESTIVITIES: During the pre-game festivities, RSL fans will have the opportunity to witness the following team honors being bestowed upon RSL players:

· Budweiser Scoring Leader
· Honda Most Valuable Player (MVP)
· Defender of the Year
· Humanitarian of the Year

NOVAK GETS FIRST CAREER START & FIRST MLS GOAL: RSL MF Kevin Novak played 89 minutes in his first MLS start and notched his first career MLS goal when the rookie played a dangerous cross in from the left wing, and when both MF Dwayne De Rosario and GK Pat Onstad hesitated, the ball snuck just inside the far post in the 64th minute.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN CUP DO OR DIE FOR RSL: Real Salt Lake (5-21-5, 20 pts., 5th West) continues its preparation for its final regular season match against Rocky Mountain rival Colorado Rapids (12-13-6, 42 pts., 4th West) on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. MT with the Rapids currently leading the series 2-1.

RSL DF Brian Dunseth headed home what proved to be the game-winning goal to give RSL its first win in a 1-0 victory over Rocky Mountain rival Colorado Rapids in front an overflow crowd of 25,287 at Rice-Eccles Stadium on April 16 of this season in the team's inaugural home game.

In the 19th minute, RSL got its first real chance on goal when MF Clint Mathis fed rookie MF Luke Kreamalmeyer streaking down the left side of the pitch. Kreamalmeyer took the ball into the corner and put a cross in to FW Jason Kreis, but his shot sailed just wide of the net. Just eight minutes later Kreamalmeyer found himself on the end of another Mathis cross before popping a shot over the cross bar.

In the second half, Colorado came out strong, but failed to gain any real scoring opportunities before the revamped Real defense put the clamps on the Rapids attack. With the defense playing as a cohesive unit, Real was able to open up the Colorado backline, playing the ball through the middle and winning the midfield battle. RSL finally capitalized on their control of the match when Mathis took a free kick wide on the right in the 81st minute. The ball flashed through the penalty area and bounced in the heart of the box, and a streaking Dunseth dove to head home the lone goal at the back post.

On Sept. 21, during Week 26, the Rapids tied the series with a 2-0 win over RSL at Invesco Field. Colorado FW Jean Philippe Peguero opened the scoring in the second half with his sixth goal of the season. The play began with Peguero taking a shot that caromed straight up off of RSL DF Eddie Pope. DF Eric Denton hustled to the ball before Pope could get to it and quickly poked it forward to the now-open Peguero, who easily put the ball in the back of the net in the 49th minute.

The Rapids put the game away in the 87th minute under bizarre circumstances. The ball was played back to MF Andy Williams at midfield, who made no move toward it and instead appeared to have suffered a leg injury. Colorado Terry Cooke quickly intercepted and streaked down the wing before sending in a cross that found a wide-open FW David "Dedi" Ben Dayan who settled the ball and curled it into the far corner of the net for his first career MLS goal.

During the team's last meeting at Invesco Field on Oct. 1, Mathis latched onto a nicely placed cross from MF Robert Scarlett and volleyed it with his right foot over GK Byron Foss into the back of the net to give RSL the first goal in the 14th minute. Colorado tied it up when Dedi chipped the ball over 'keeper Jay Nolly from just inside the edge of the area in the 39th minute. The Rapids final goal was scored by FW Jeff Cunningham when he slid into a ball from Peguero in the 86th minute.

POPE & USMNT READY TO TAKE ON PANAMA: Real Salt Lake DF Eddie Pope played a full 90 minutes in the U.S. Men's National Team 0-3 loss against Costa Rica at Ricardo Saprissa Stadium in San Jose, Costa Rica on Saturday. The U.S. returns to home soil to face Panama at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. at 6:00 p.m. MT on Wednesday, Oct. 12, live on ESPN2. Pope returns to the U.S. fold on Oct. 3 after missing the previous three qualifiers and with 73 appearances to his credit, ranks as the USA's most experienced player in the squad.

CABRERA & GUATEMALA TO FACE COSTA RICA: RSL DF Gustavo Cabrera played 75 minutes in Guatemala's 2-5 loss against Mexico on Oct. 8 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico and now Guatemala returns home this week as it prepares for its final World Cup Qualifier against Costa Rica on Wednesday, Oct. 12 in Guatemala City, Guatemala at 6:00 p.m. MT. Cabrera started in three games for RSL and has played 270 minutes.

"REGGAE BOYZ" FALL 5-0 IN FRIENDLY AGAINST AUSTRALIA: RSL MF Robert Scarlett played 53 minutes in the 0-5 loss against Australia at English Premier League Fulham's Craven Cottage in London, England on Oct. 9 at 6:00 a.m., an international friendly, which is part of the Powerade Series. Australia and Jamaica last met on September 7, 2003 with goals by FW Marco Bresciano and MF Harry Kewell, which was enough to secure Australia a 2-1 win at Majdeski Stadium in Reading, England. Scarlett has started and played in six games for RSL, adding speed and skill to the left midfield.

VOTE FOR THE RADIOSHACK MLS ALL-TIME BEST XI: Fans can now cast their votes for the election of the RadioShack MLS All-Time Best XI as part of Major League Soccer's 10th Season celebrations, with DF Eddie Pope, FW Jason Kreis and MF Clint Mathis as the three RSL players under consideration for this honor. Fans can vote by logging onto the League's official web site at www.MLSnet.com and the following link contains the voting application: http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/mls/events/season_10/best_11.jsp. Fan balloting, which accounts for 50 percent of the final vote total, began Tuesday and will conclude on October 16, the final day of the 2005 regular season. Media and MLS coaches and general managers will also participate in the other half of the voting process. The 78 player pool is formed by players who were Best XI selections or named to at least three All-Star Games since the 1996 Inaugural Season. One goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards will form the RadioShack MLS All-Time Best XI squad which will be announced during the MLS Cup Playoffs. The field is divided as follows: 9 goalkeepers, 21 defenders, 27 midfielders and 21 forwards. Of the 78 players, 38 are currently playing with MLS clubs.

MLS CUP 2005 CREDENTIALS NOW AVAILABLE: Media planning to cover MLS Cup 2005 at Pizza Hut Park on Sunday, November 13 can now apply for media credentials online at the following link http://mls2005.iwebreg.com/apply. Media members that have applied for credentials for recent MLS / SUM events can login in using the same email address and password previously used. Otherwise, please register through the application. Media credential applications must be received by Friday, November 4 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Credentials from previous MLS matches or other soccer events, including 2005 MLS All-Stadium and Team season credentials, will not gain media access to this game. All media are required to re-apply for credentials ahead of MLS Cup 2005. For more information email German Sferra with Major League Soccer Communications at german.sferra@mlsnet.com or call at (212) 450-1227.

SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE FOR RSL FINAL HOME GAME: Real Salt Lake single-game tickets for its inaugural 2005 season at Rice-Eccles Stadium continue to be on sale both online and at the University of Utah Ticket Office, located at the Stadium's south end. Individual game prices are $14 for north goal, $18 for corner flag, $25 for premier east and $32 for VIP west. Individual game tickets can be purchased by visiting the Utah Ticket Office at 451 South 1400 East, by logging onto www.utahtickets.com or by contacting the Ticket Office at (801) 581-UTIX. Fans are continued to be encouraged to purchase in advance.

USE YOUR BONUS TICKETS FOR RSL'S REMAINING TWO GAMES: RSL season ticket holders can now trade in "Bonus Game D" for the Wednesday, Oct. 12 match against Colorado Rapids or for the rubber match against Chivas USA the Friday, Oct. 28. Fans can also can purchase $25 for premier tickets for $15 as part of the "Fan Appreciation Month" promotion by calling RSL Front Office at (899) 9-SOCCER or by contacting the Ticket Office at (801) 581-UTIX.